| Shake It Off |
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Acts 28:3-6 (NIV)
Paul gathered … brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper… fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said …, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. …, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Paul gathered … brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper… fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said …, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. …, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Immediately after surviving a major shipwreck, Apostle Paul gathered some sticks to intensify the fire which the inhabitants of the island they had become shipwrecked on had ignited for them. While placing the sticks on the fire, Apostle Paul was bitten by a snake which held on to his hand. The inhabitants of the land deemed this a bad omen. They speculated that Apostle Paul was destined to die because of some wrongdoing in his past and that since he had miraculously survived the shipwreck, the snake was intended to kill him. They were surprised when Apostle Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire.Never allow what happens to you to shake you. Instead, by the glorious strength of God, shake them off and continue to focus on conducting the exploits that God has called and empowered you to do. Resist the urge to allow what others may think and/or say about your past to shake you. Also remain vigilant in shaking off negative thoughts. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all, Psa.34:19. You will go through whatever may come your way and emerge better on the other side. Jesus has given you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy with the assurance that 'nothing' shall by 'any means' hurt you. In Isaiah 43:2, God promised that He will be with you and that when you pass through waters, they will not overflow you; when you pass through the fire, it will not burn you.
PRAYER FOCUS: Thank God for His presence and power which resides with you and guarantees your protection and safety. Declare that nothing will ever shake or stop you from doing exploits.
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